Island



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. ATWA'IER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

COPYING-PRESS.

Specification forming part of .Letters Patent No. 37,379, dated January13, 1853.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOSEPH H. A'IWATER, of the city and county ofProvidence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new, useful, andImproved Copying-Press; and I do hereby declare that the same isdescribed and represented in the following specifications and drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and the mode of using it, referringto the drawings, in which the same letters indicate like parts in eachof the figures.

Figure Il is a top view of my improved press. Fig'. 2 is a view of thepress open. Fig. 3 is a section on the lines z z, Figs. l and 2.

The nature of my invention consists in the improvements describedin thefollowing specification.

In the accompanying drawings, A is the top and B the bottom plates ofthe copyingpress, and are each provided with sides O O, and ends D D,forming two open boxes, which, when closed, as shown in Figs. l and 3,form a case to protect the book E, as shown in the latter gure. Theplates or boxes A and B are connected together with strong hinges F F,.which form the fulcra of the two boxes, which act on the copy-book liketwo levers when applied to it to take a copy. I apply a spring-catch, G,to the plate A, so that when the plates are pressed together in taking acopy, the catch Gr will spring' into the stand H on the plate B and lockthe two together, so as to leave the book in press as long as may berequired to take a copy, and with good ink and good paper I have taken aperfect copy by keeping the press closed only thirty seconds or half aminute.

In order to lock up the book and press when not in use, I put a lock atI and a catch at J for that purpose.

In order to adapt this press to books varying in thickness I make amovable plate or platen, K, just wide enough to traverse freely in thebox and a little shorter than the length of the box inside, but as longas the book used. On the under side of the plate K, I fasten two or moreinclined planes, L L, and make the saine number of inclined planes M inor on the bottom B, so that the plate K may be adjusted on theseinclined planes to suit the thickness of the book used in taking copies.I fasten a small stand or thumbpiece, N, to the plate K, by which it maybe adjusted on the inclined planes, which are not smooth and steepenough to let the plate K slip when the pressure is applied to thecopy-book. I make a scale, P, on the plate K and fasten an index orstand, Q, to the inside of the side O, so that when it is ascertained inwhat position it will give sufcient pressure to take a copy with anyparticular book the book may be marked, the number indicated by theindex on the scale, and the plate set to the number of the book wheneverit is used.

To take a copy with this press, place the copying-book on the platen K,with its end against the stand N and its edge against the stand Q, andadjust the platen so that about one hundred pounds pressure on the endof the top A farthest from the hinges will bring the top down so thatthe bolt G will spring into the stand H and fasten it down. Let itremain thirty seconds, draw back the bolt, open the press, and take outthe book and the copy will be complete.

My improved press costs about half as much as an iron press. It isportable, durable, convenient, and light, and it copies as well and asquickly as any other press, however costly or cumbrous. It keeps thecopyingbook clean and safe. It is easily moved from one place toanother, or carried in a trunk when traveling, as it weighs only abouttive pounds. It occupies very little room and requires no expense to setit up so that it can be worked. It is not liable to break down or blurin copying, and is every way more convenient than the iron presses incommon use.

I believe I have described and represented my improved copying-press soas to enable any person skilled in theart to make and use it withoutfurther invention or experiment.

I will now state what I desire to secure by Letters Patent-to wit:

I claim- A box copying-press, for the purpose of taking a copy ofwriting and for the protection and safe -keeping of the copying-book, asherein described.

JOSEPH H. ATWATER.

Witnesses:

SIMON S. LAPHAM, JOHN TEIPP.

